Apparatus for shaping tubing



Feb. 1944. w -p, HM 2,341,144

APPARATUS FOR SHAPING TUBING FiledApril 27 1942 2 Sheets-.Sheet 1 INVENTOR- WALTER P.HILL

ATTORNEYS Feb. 8, 1944. w. P.' HILL 2,341,144

APPARATUS FOR SHAPING TUBING Filed April 27, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H6 6 a w INVENTOR. A

WALTER P. HILL ATTORN E YS Patented Feb. 8, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,341444 APPARATUS FOR SHAPING TUBING Walter 1?. Hill, Detroit, Mich, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Calumet dated Copper Compan poration of Michigan and Hecla Consoliy, Calumet, Mich., a cor- Application April'27, 1942, Serial No. 440,71;

' 5 Claims. (01. 113-52) This invention relates generally to tools for shaping stock and refers more particularly to improvements in tools for reducing tubular stock.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a reducing tool having a cavity for receiving a length of tubular stock and having means enabling numerous different shapes to be.

imparted to the stock as the cavity. v

Another object of this invention is to provide a reducing tool having relatively adjustable parts it is advanced through Figure 6 is afragmentary sectional view through a length of tubular stock shaped by the tool shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive.

enabling the extent of reduction of the stock to be readily varied. As a result of this feature, th cross sectional area ofthe stock and, consequently, the shape of the stock may be varied within wide limits with the same tool.

A further object of this invention is to provide an adjustable reducing tool of the character set forth above having means for initially heating the stock by exerting a reducing pressure continuously around the entire circumference of the stock to render the latter easily workable and having means for further reducing the stock by exerting a reducing pressure on a continuous area of the stock extending over a portion of the circumference of the stock while leaving the remaining portion of the stock free to deform in response to the reducing pressure.

A tool of the above general type not only enables the cross sectional area of the stock to. be

varied during the reducing operation but also enables the stock to be maintained in a plastic or easily workable condition and thereby controls the distribution of the stock so that there will be a uniform or controlled distribution resulting in the desired configuration and stock thickness in the completed article. I The foregoing, as well as other objects, wi be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a tool con-' structed in accordance with this invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the tool shown in Figure 1 and illustrating a length of stock in the tool;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line ,33 of Figure 2; Figura is a diagrammaticend elevation of the tool showing the parts thereof in one extreine position of adjustment;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure. 4 showing the parts of the tool in another extreme position or adlustment: and

Referring now more in detail to the drawings it will be noted that the tool selected for the purpose of illustrating this invention comprises two relativelygrotatable parts l0 and II. The part III has a recess or bore l2 concentric with the axis M of the tool and the part II also has a recess or bore H which cooperates with the bore I 2 to form a cavity i 5 through which a length oftubular stock It; is adapted to be extended upon relative axial movement of the tool and stock toward each other. The mechanism for relatively axially moving the stock and tool toward each other is not shown herein because it is evident that any one of a large number of mechanisms may be used for this purpose.

Upon reference to Figure 2 it will be noted that the tool part II is eccentrically mounted on the tool part In for rotation about the axis l'l, shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 as being ofiset laterally from the tool axis l3. In detail, the tool part it is rotatably supported in a recess it formed in the rear end of the tool part l0- and having an inner cylindrical wall concentric withthe axis ll to provide a bearing support for the tool part II. The bore it through the tool part II is eccentrically located with respect to the axis ll of rotation of the tool part II and the axis I 9 of the bore I4 is spaced laterally from the axis I! a distance equal to the distance between the axis I1 and the axis I3. It follows from the above that the axis I 9 of the bore I through the tool part II rotates around the axis ll of the part II upon relative rotation of the tool parts. a

The above construction is such that when the parts of the tool are in the extreme position of adjustment shown in Figure 4, the bore It in the tool part II is in alignment with the bore l2 in the tool part I. The other extreme relative position of the tool parts is shown in Figure 5 wherein it will be noted that the bore plished when the parts of the tool are in the relative positions of adjustment shown in Figure 5.

In fact, when the tool parts are in the' relative positions shown in this figure, the maximum area of the pressure applying surface is exposed to the delivery end of the bore I2 and the end of the stock is completely closed. As the tool parts are relatively adjusted from the position shown in Figure to the position shown in Figure 4, the area of the pressure applying surface 2! exposed to the delivery end of the bore I2 is gradually reduced and the degree of reduction of the stock is correspondingly reduced. Thus, the extent of reduction of the stock may be readily varied within wide limits by merely relatively rotating the tool parts. "in the present instance the part it is rotated relative to the part it by a lever 22 operatively connected to the part it in a manner to be more fully hereinafter set forth.

Referring again to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, it will be noted that as the tool part it is rotated relative to the tool part it from the position thereof shown in Figure 4 toward the position shown in Figure 5, the portion of the bore M opposite the pressure applying surface 2i provides a, relief A' of sumcient size to enable the stock to freely deform in response to the reducing pressure applied by the surface 2 l.

The stock is initially heated sumclently to enable the same to be easily worked by applying a limited reducing pressure on the stock throughout its circumference and this is accomplished by reducing the bore 02 at the delivery end of the latter. This reduced portion .is indicated in Operation The first step in the operation of the reducing tool is to rotatably adjust the part II relative to the part ID to thevextent necessary to obtain the desired degree of reduction of the length of tubular stock to be reduced. Assuming that it is desired to partially reduce the stock, the part it is rotated to a position between the two extreme positions shown in Figures'd and 5. The

' tool and the length of stock to be reduced are Figure 2 of the drawings by the reference char- 7 actor 25. y

The tool and stock are not only relatively axially moved toward each other to efiect the reducing operation but are also relatively rotated about the axis it] of the tool. Any suitable mechanism may be provided for rotating either the stock or the tool and, therefore, no specific means is shown for this purpose. In the event it is desired to rotate the tool parts the latter are supported in a revoluble holder or housing 2% in such a manner that rotation of the housing effects a corresponding rotation ofboth tool parts.

As shown in Figure 2, the front end portion of the housing has an opening therethrough of sumcient dimension to receive the tool part "it and the opposite or rear end of the housing has a reduced opening registering with the delivery.

end of the bore M in the tool part it to enable passage of the stock. The surface of the housing surrounding the opening through the front end thereof is concentric with the tool axis is and has a bearing engagement with the outer surface of the tool part It. The part it is held against rotation relative to the housing by bolts Ti passing through a radially outwardly extending flange 28 on the front end of the tool part it and threaded into the front wall of the housing. The rear end of the tool part it abuts the rear wall of the housing and is adjustable relative to the part It by manipulating the lever 22 as will be described. I

The lever 22 which as specifically shown isin the form of a yoke is. engageable with an annular groove formed by spacedribs 29a, on a slide 29 splined on the housing N for movement'axially of the letter said slide having a groove 30 formed in the inner surface thereof for receiving a pin 3!. The pin 8! extends radially outwardly from the tool part H and projects-into the groove 30 through registering segmental slots 32 in the ad- :Iacent walls of the tool part l0 and the housing 24. The groove 30 is helical or, in other words,

wall thickness.

then relatively axially moved toward each other to extend the end, of the stock into the bore II in the tool part it. As the stock is advanced along the'bore l2 either the stock or tool is rotated about the axis l3 and the stock is engaged with the reduced portion or heat ring 25 at the delivery end of the bore l2.

The reduced portion 25 exerts a. reducing pressure continuously around the circumference of the stock and heats the latter sumciently to enable the same to be readily worked. Continued advancement of the stock along the bore l2 causes the end of the stock to engage the tapered surface 2! at the entrant end of the bore l4 through the part If and this tapered surface reduces the stock to a diameter depending upon the area of the surface registering with the delivery end of the bore it. As the stock is reduced by the surface 2i, the excess stock resulting from thermal expansion and reduction in cross sectional area is free to deform into the relief portion A provided in the bore i4 opposite the surface 2|. As

a'result, the stock is worked sufllciently during the reducing operation to maintain the same in a plastic state and, at the same time, is prevented from overheating. In addition, the above construction provides for accurately controlling distribution of the stock and renders it possible to form the stock to the desired configuration and This is accomplished by movement of the lever 22 (which has a suitable fulcrum not shown) and the longitudinal movement of the slide 29 which through the helical groove 30 and pin'3 l imparts a rotary movement to the member H Such rotation will move the tapered surface 2| towards or away from the axis of rotation of the tool thereby imparting to the work the desired contour. r

I In Figure 6 of the drawings I have shown a length of tube B capable of being formed'by the reducing tool described above and havin axially spaced portions of different crosssectional area. These portions are formed by relatively rotatably adjusting the tool parts at the proper intervals in the reducing cycle. Particular attention is directed to the fact that regardless of the variations in contour of the tube B, the wall thickness is substantially uniform and this is the result of controlling the distribution of the stock in the manner previously pointed out. In the event it is desired to completely close one end of the stock, the tool parts are relatively rotated to the extreme position shown in Figure 5 wherein the lin of intersection between thetaperedsurface M and adjacent side wall of the bore it passes throughthe axis of the bore .l2.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A forming'tool for reducing stock comprising a part having a bore therethrough extending in the general direction of the axis of the tool for receiving a length of'stock and having a portion at the delivery end restricted for exerting a reducing pressure on the stock .to heat the latter, a second part eccentrically mounted with respect to the axis of the bore in the first part and positioned at the delivery end of the bore, said second part having a bore therethrough provided with a portion at the entrant end tapered outwardly to provide a pressure applying surface for engagaxisof the second part a distance approximating the distance between the axis of the second part and the axis of the first bore whereby in one ex-' treme relative rotative position ofthe parts the bores are 'in-alignment and in the other extreme relative rbtative position of said parts one side wall portion of the second bore inte sectsthe axis ing the stock leaving the delivery end of the first 1 bore, the axis of the second bore being laterally ofiset from the axis of the second part a distance approximating the distance between the axis of the second part and the axis of the first bore whereby relative rotation of the parts moves the second bore from a position in alignment with the first bore to positions wherein more or less of the area of the pressure applying surface registers with the delivery end of the first bore and wherein the space in the second bore opposite the pressure applying surface forms a relief area end of the bore, the axis of the recess beingoifset laterally from the axis of the bore, a second part mounted in the recess for. rotation about the ams of the recess and having a bore therethrough eccentrically located with respect tothe axis of rotative movement of the second part, the

axis of the second bore being so located with respect to the axis of the second part that in one relative rotative position ofthe parts the second bore assumes a position in alignment with the axis of the first bore, said second bore having a portion of One side wall at the entrant end tapered outwardly, and means for relatively rotating said parts to register more or less ofthe area of said tapered portion with the delivery end ing a part having a boretherethroughfor-receivins-the stock, a second part supported at the delivery end of the bore for rotation about onset laterally withQresp'ect to the axls'oi the bore and having ai bore therethrough cooperat- 1 ing with the first bore to form a cavlty;,the axis or the second bore being onset laterally from the of the first bore,-said side wall por ion of second bore being tapered outwardly'at the entrant, end of the second bore to provide a stock reducing surface, and means 'for "relatively rotating saidparts between the two extreme positions aforesaid to register more or less of the area of reducing surface with the delivery end of the first bore to therebycontrol the extent of reduction of the stock and'to also provide a relief area in the. second bore opposite said tapered. wall portion to enable the stock to deform-freely in response to the reducing operation.

4. A forming tool comprising a rotary hollow member having an entrance for the stock and a concentric circumferentially contracted portion in rear of said entrance for reducing and heating the stock when relatively advanced therethrough, a second member mounted on the aforesaid member in rear of said contracted portion to be rotatably adjustable; about an axis eccentric to the axis of rotation of said tool, said second memher having an eccentric recess extending therethrough with the surface on one side of said.re

towards or from the axis of rotation to correspondingly fashion the stock during continued I relative advancement thereof.

5. A forming tool comprising a rotary hollow member having an entrance for the stock and a concentric circumferentially contracted portion in rear of said entrance for reducing and heating the stock when relatively advanced therethrough,

of the first bore to thereby correspondinglvvary 4 the reducing pressure applied to the stock. -3. A forming tool for reducing stock-comprisa second member mounted 'rotatably adjustable about an axis eccentric to the axis of rotation of said tool, said second member having an aper-' surface on one side turetherethroughwith the 4 thereof inclined to said axisof rotation to exert an inward pressure on a segment of the surface of the stock leaving another segment thereof free for expansion, and means for rotatably adjusting saidsecond member relative to said first member during the continued rotation of the tool whereby said inclined surface is moved towards or from the axis of rotation to correspondingly fashion the stock during the continued rgatlve" movement thereof.

p 'WALTER P. HIIL. 

